MADRID: Rafael Nadal could clinch the Davis Cup for Spain after Roberto Bautista Agut gave the hosts the lead in the final against Canada on Sunday by beating Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Bautista Agut returned after withdrawing on Thursday following the death of his father and the world number nine sealed an emotional 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 victory in Madrid as Spain edged closer to their sixth success in this competition.

Nadal will face Denis Shapovalov in the second singles match, with the chance to establish an unassailable 2-0 advantage and deem irrelevant the final doubles rubber.

The Spanish team had shown support for Bautista Agut earlier this week by leaving a gap as they stood on court for their national anthem and this was a poignant win for the 31-year-old, who also lost his mother unexpectedly last year.

At the finish, he embraced his captain Sergi Bruguera by the net before leaping up into the arms of his delighted team-mates in the crowd.

In front of a raucous home crowd, Bautista Agut’s experience appeared crucial, particularly at the end of a nervy first-set tie-break when the 19-year-old Auger-Aliassime lost both his composure and consistency.

Vasek Pospisil and Shapovalov have won six out of their eight singles matches this week and the decision of Canada captain Frank Dancevic to throw in the teenager was a bold one.

Auger-Aliassime is considered one of the game’s brightest young talents but this was only his second Davis Cup tie, even if he was key to Canada’s progress after winning the decisive rubber in their qualifier against Slovakia back in February.—AFP